Florida SBDC at South Florida State College in Avon Park: Counties of Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at South Florida State College, assists existing and emerging businesses in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties, through no-cost confidential business consulting, information, and low-cost training. Whether starting, buying, growing or selling a business, the Florida SBDC at USF has what entrepreneurs need to grow and succeed. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business areas, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization.

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Meet the Consultants

Michael Noel

Florida SBDC at USF, Avon Park

Specialty: Finance, Marketing

Michael Noel has been a one-man shop as well as on the executive management team of a bank division with more than 550 employees. He works well with diverse teams in developing financial and marketing solutions for their businesses. He has spent the bulk of his career in the financial services industry. His varied business experience includes mortgage, rental real estate and investments and insurance. He earned a bachelors degree in psychology/sociology from Wake Forest University and a masters degree in business administration from Georgia State University.He holds Profit Mastery Facilitator and TTI DISC Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst certifications. He was named Best Financial Advisor in 2011 and 2012 in the Reader’s Choice Awards, conducted by the Highlands News-Sun. He was also a 2014 finalist. In 2018, Michael earned a Valor Award from the Florida SBDC Network for his role in business disaster recovery efforts. Michael has served on the boards of the Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce and NuHope Eldercare Services. He currently serves on the board of Samaritan’s Touch Care Center and the Investment Committee of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

The Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide partnership program nationally accredited by the Association of America’s SBDCs and funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network's lead host institution. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals.